Maria Island: Wildlife Cruise & Guided Walk with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (637 reviews) 99% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration8h

GroupUp to 28

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Maria Island’s wild coast, local wildlife and convict echoes with lunch in a quiet bay

You’ll cruise along Maria Island’s wild coast spotting seals and maybe dolphins before stepping onto land for a guided walk through convict ruins dotted with wombats and kangaroos. Lunch is served at anchor in a peaceful bay with local wine or beer included. This tour feels personal—stories from guides, laughter over cake—and leaves you quietly changed by Tasmania’s wildness.

Step-by-step itinerary

Maria Island cruise and guided walk

Depart from Triabunna
Enjoy 4-hour scenic cruise
Have lunch on boat at anchor
Take 2-hour guided walk on island
View native wildlife and convict history

The Experience

“You never really know what the sea will show you,” our skipper said as we left Triabunna’s little dock, and I could hear the grin in his voice even though he was busy steering. The boat engine hummed under my feet and the air tasted like salt — not sharp, just enough to notice. I kept peeking at the water for dolphins (I’m always too hopeful about these things), but instead it was seals first, flopped on rocks like they owned the place. Someone pointed out an eagle circling above — I missed it, distracted by the way sunlight cut through the clouds onto Maria Island ahead.

Landing on Maria Island felt like stepping into a different pace of life. Our guide, Sarah, had this calm way of telling stories about the old convict settlement — she showed us where prisoners used to sleep (the stone was cold if you touched it) and told us how wombats just wander around now like they run the show. We actually saw three of them munching grass near the old buildings. One looked up at me for a second — not scared at all — and I swear that’s when I finally relaxed into being there. The wind smelled faintly sweet from some kind of flowering bush I couldn’t name.

Lunch was simple but honestly hit the spot — salad bowls from their café, eaten right on deck while anchored in a quiet bay. I picked smoked salmon and tried a glass of Darlington Riesling (they just hand it to you with your meal). There was cake after, too. The conversation drifted between people at my table: someone from Melbourne who’d never seen a wallaby before, Sarah laughing about how Tasmanian devils sometimes steal shoes if you leave them out overnight (not sure if she was joking). It felt easy to just sit there watching blue water and cliffs instead of checking my phone for once.

On the way back to Triabunna, I stood outside for most of it even though my hair got completely tangled. The air felt colder but cleaner somehow. If you’re thinking about a day trip to Maria Island from Hobart or nearby, don’t overthink it — just go with whoever’s running this cruise & walk thing. It’s not fancy or anything; it’s just real Tasmania — animals doing their thing, people sharing stories over lunch in the wind. I still think about that view coming back toward shore, sunlight flickering off the waves.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup by shuttle bus from Hobart if needed, all landing fees for Maria Island, morning tea or coffee served alongside seal viewing on deck, a four-hour scenic cruise with live commentary by your guide or skipper (who are genuinely friendly), two hours exploring Darlington’s convict settlement on foot with plenty of time to spot native animals like wombats and kangaroos up close—plus your choice of salad bowl lunch onboard in a sheltered bay with local wine or beer included and extra snacks like cake or soft drinks along the way before returning to Triabunna by late afternoon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Maria Island Cruises